Born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, Gloria came to the U.S. as a little girl and grew up in the agricultural Central Valley of California. At an early age, Gloria developed a love for humanities and the arts, and as a first generation college student, she went on to complete a dual Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theater Arts (Dance) from Sonoma State University in 2011. She has directed, choreographed, and performed dance throughout the Bay Area, is a certified labyrinth walk facilitator, a handmade beadwork artist, and teaches children's dance and jewelry-making classes. In her professional life, Gloria has been heavily involved in arts nonprofits and organizations, most notably in managing fundraisers and events, outreach and communications, grants management, social media management, and overall business and professional development.

Gloria is passionate about combining the use of arts and creativity, somatic awareness and expression, and inner and external understanding for individual and community healing. Her passion has developed into board participation and arts administration for a variety of local non-profits, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Expressive Arts in a conjunction program between Tamalpa Institute and Meridian University.